Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has said that India stands ready to support Africa on its developmental priorities and is committed to its partnership with Africa in its journey towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063. He said, India has been supportive of a development paradigm that is Africa-led and Africa-owned. Mr Muraleedharan stated this last month in his address at the Plenary Session of the 8th Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa on the topic – ‘Global crises and Sovereignty in Africa’.

The Minister recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at the Ugandan Parliament in 2018 envisioned 10 principles for the India-Africa partnership. It included a development partnership that is strong on supporting efforts of African states in their pursuit of comprehensive socio-economic development, always guided by Africa’s own priorities. Mr Muraleedharan mentioned that the deep bonds of solidarity between India and Africa represent a defining partnership of the Global South. It is a partnership that has been forged over several decades, strengthened by long-standing trade and diaspora linkages, shared struggles against colonialism, and common developmental challenges.